A tourist bus plummeted 1,000 feet off a mountain road in Sri Lanka, killing at least 15 people and injuring 16 others. The tragic crash occurred on Thursday night in the mountainous Ella region near Wellawaya, about 280 kilometres east of Colombo.
The passengers were local tourists returning from a visit to a tea plantation when the bus smashed through the barrier and careered down the mountainside. Footage shows the badly damaged remains of the bus lodged on a steep gradient, with seats and debris scattered around and its walls and roof peeled off.
The driver managed to shout a warning to passengers just before the crash, telling them to hold on. One surviving passenger described the terrifying moment: "I was thrown out of the bus through a broken window."
Investigation and rescue efforts
The 16 injured passengers were able to climb out of the bus wreckage themselves. An early police investigation suggests the driver lost control of the vehicle before it crashed through the guardrails.
Pattern of deadly incidents
Fatal bus crashes are common in Sri Lanka, particularly on the country's narrow and poorly maintained mountain roads. The mountainous regions rely heavily on bus transportation for the tourism industry, especially for visits to tea plantations.
In May, 21 passengers were killed when a bus crashed off a mountain road and landed on its roof near the town of Kotmale. The incident highlights ongoing transportation safety concerns in Sri Lanka's challenging terrain.
Sources used: "Metro", "Independent", "Daily Star", "Express"
Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
